SRQ DAILY Sep 24, 2026
Thursday Family and Recreation Edition
"They take pride in their schoolwork, just as they do on their work on the court."
This past winter, the Sarasota High girls basketball team’s season featured some high points. Under second year head coach Sara Nuxol, the Sailors improved upon their 9-15 record in 2024-25, going 14-13 on the season in 2025-26. Senior Paisley Binswanger etched her name into the record books on January 16, surpassing 1,611 points to become Sarasota High’s all-time girls basketball leading scorer. Another achievement, however, came after the season had ended.
This August, the Florida Highschool Athletic Association (FHSAA) named the Sailors the Class 7A Academic State Champions, the top academic honor a team can earn. “It is the highest cumulative GPA in the state for everybody listed on our roster,” says Nuxol. “At Sarasota High, we hold ourselves to some high standards. I have great kids who are obviously high achievers academically, but are just very passionate about their grades. They take pride in their schoolwork, just as they do on their work on the court.”
While Coach Nuxol holds her players to a high standard academically—she doesn’t allow a grade lower than a “C” without a consequence—she says that much of the team’s academic success comes from within. The players, particularly the seniors, set a standard of academic excellence, which made it natural for underclassmen to follow suit. “It’s an ongoing joke that I have with them of, ‘Oh, I have a bunch of nerds on my team’, but they really are. They’re inquisitive kids who want to understand how things work and ensure that they are doing things the right way—they want to be the best at whatever they’re doing,” says Nuxol. “It’s not even fun to do grade checks with them, because they all have “A’s”.”
For Nuxol, who hopes to achieve this honor once more while winning a basketball state championship in the future, there is a strong correlation between success on the court and in the classroom. Both require the ability to focus and be truly present, compartmentalizing one play set just the same as a vocabulary word or mathematical equation. “The biggest thing that I’ve tried to instill in them from a basketball standpoint is that everything you do matters in some shape or form,” says Nuxol. 
SHS Varsity Girls Head Coach Sara Nuxol, Aurora Ahern, Molly Cocozza, Maggie Rogers, Aivy Lee, Sophia Chacon, Lexi Pint, London Guy, Katherine Curtis and JV Girls Head Coach John Cox. Photo credit Beach Media.
Sarasota County Schools is pleased to share that 25 traditional public schools have been designated as Florida Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (Florida PBIS) Model Schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Florida PBIS Model School designations are issued annually to schools demonstrating strong implementation of the program, equitable discipline practices, and positive student behavioral outcomes. The designation levels are Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Art 4 Change is inviting young artists across Sarasota and Manatee counties to use their creativity to imagine a better future through its 4th Annual A Better World Through Art Poster Contest. The annual contest challenges students in grades 6–12 to create an original poster responding to the theme: The change you wish to see in the world. The poster contest is part of Art 4 Change's ongoing commitment to making the arts accessible to young people and using art as a tool for education, expression, and positive social change.
A Better World Through Art, 4th Annual Student Poster Contest, Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12 in Sarasota and Manatee counties, Exhibition: April 28–May 2, 2026, For contest guidelines, submission information, and additional details, visit www.art4changeinc.org/abetterworld.
Provided photo.
The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County announces its 2026–2027 YVote Contest, themed “YVote? Convince Me It Matters!” The contest invites Sarasota County middle school students to create persuasive messages showing young people why voting matters. The theme reflects the League’s concern about low voter participation among people ages 18 to 24.Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 who attend a Sarasota County district public school or public charter school are eligible to enter. The contest is not part of classroom activities or assignments. Students may submit a compelling essay, an original two-dimensional artwork, or a social media video designed to capture young people’s attention and persuade them that their votes matter. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners in each grade and category: first-place winners receive $200; second-place winners receive $100; third-place winners receive $50. The submission deadline is Friday, January 22, 2027. Winners will be announced in March 2027.
Join the Markovitz Socratic Stage Series featuring Judge Roy K. Altman and Dr. Stuart Altshuler for an insightful discussion on Judge Altman’s book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.
Katie Tinley, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNE, director of BSN curriculum and instruction at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), and Diana Pitcher, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, CCRN, an RN-BSN nursing adjunct instructor at SCF, presented the webinar “Navigating the Shift: Implementing the 2025 Johns Hopkins EBP Model into an Online RN-BSN Curriculum” in August. The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing (IJHN) hosted the event. Learn more at SCF.edu.
Ringling College of Art and Design is pleased to announce that its renowned TOWN HALL Speaker Series will relocate its offices to the Ringling College Museum Campus, home of Sarasota Art Museum, located at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail. This exciting move brings one of Sarasota’s most cherished cultural programs to join a dynamic hub of creativity, learning, and community engagement.
Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources will launch Little Otter’s Big Reading Adventure on Monday, Sept. 28. The new early literacy initiative encourages children ages 0 to 6 and their families to read together, build early literacy skills and celebrate milestones along the way. To celebrate the launch, a live otter demonstration from Mote Marine will be streamed at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28. During the demonstration, the otters will choose their favorite books, and a biologist will share facts about the two otters. For more information, visit SarasotaCountyLibraries.org/littles, call 311 or 941-861-5000.
This October, The Sarasota Players are inviting audiences to step into something darker. From October 3 to 25, 2026, rahc Saturday and Sunday, DRACULA, adapted by director Ren Pearson, will transform The Players Studio Black Box into an intimate world of fear, obsession, seduction, and supernatural terror. Rather than presenting the legendary vampire story as a distant Gothic spectacle, this production brings audiences close to the darkness, and asks what happens when the things we fear most begin to feel dangerously close to home.
The Players Studio Black Box, 1400 Blvd. Of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota, Oct. 3-25, 2026.
Provided photo.
Join us on November 6 at Michael’s On East for the 2026 Women Who Roar Leadership Awards, a celebration of the exceptional women shaping the Sarasota and Bradenton community through business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, innovation and leadership. This inspiring gathering brings together women in business and community leaders to connect, celebrate and honor the remarkable women whose vision and contributions are making a lasting impact across our region.
November 6, 2026 at Michael's On East
As Art Sarasota Center closes its centennial season and begins another century, it welcomes four artists and their works for the upcoming August and September season. Molly Duff-Clarke will showcase Home for Dinner, and curator Alecia Harper will present Shaping Sarasota: A Century of Art, which presents a chronological visual history spanning 100 years of creativity. Antoine Williams presents a new body of work that reimagines Black southern cultural folklore and traditions with Putting Breath in the Body. Finally, juror John Pirman presents the juried show, Icons.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
More than 30 Creative Liberties artists come together for a group exhibition showcasing the range of talent, styles and perspectives within the Creative Liberties community. An opening reception will be held on September 16 from 5pm-7pm.
Creative Liberties at ARCOS, 340 Central Ave., Sarasota
Enjoy a delicious brunch offered every Sunday at Tripletail Seafood and Spirits on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room. The menu features a variety of dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent creme brulee French toast, steak and eggs, lobster benedict, crab and shrimp omelet and the Tripletail brunch burger. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or mimosa with the purchase of any entree.
Tripletail Seafood and Spirits, 4870 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Every Saturday and Sunday, Cask and Ale on Main Street lifts a toast and taps a toe to a delicious brunch with a diverse chef-prepared menu. Try the rotating chef's special menu, bottomless mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. On Sundays, hear live jazz music from 12pm-4pm.
Cask and Ale, 1548 Main St., Sarasota
From the smooth soul of Motown to the irresistible hooks of pop and R&B, this dynamic tribute spans the greatest classics from the 1960s through today. Relive beloved hits made famous by icons like The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Four Seasons and The Temptations. Featuring tight harmonies and charismatic showmanship, this energetic revue delivers constant hits and fresh takes on old favorites.
Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N Palm Ave., Sarasota
Win prizes while you think, drink and enjoy fresh seafood and signature cocktails at Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar when Trivia Nation hosts Trivia Tuesdays. Test your knowledge across a variety of categories, bring your friends, family and coworkers, or jump in and join a team when you arrive. Win a $100 gift card every week and the admiration of your smartest friends.
Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar, 428 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota
Ever wonder what goes into creating a circus? The Ringling's Canvas City exhibit offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people who make the spectacular entertainment venues come to life, from tentmakers and photographers to costume designers. See over 1,500 pieces, including circus costumes, leotards, band uniforms, animal blankets and more. Costumes on view will be rotated throughout the year as museum registrars review the collection and add notes and new photography to their records.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Maria A. Guzman Capron explores the complexities of identity through vibrant figurative textiles. Drawing inspiration from her own multicultural heritage, the artist creates layered portraits of exuberant, multi-faceted characters.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Featuring works by such acclaimed modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join historians Dr. Brian Steele and Dr. John A. Ragosta for an insightful discussion examining the enduring legacy of Thomas Jefferson. The speakers will explore Jefferson's contributions to U.S. politics, society and government, including the significance of the Jeffersonian Revolution of 1800. The conversation will cover his views on religious freedom, his early vision for the executive branch, his perspective on loyal opposition and his lasting impact on American nationhood.
Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
The popular Halloween-inspired light show returns to Selby Gardens' Historic Spanish Point! The campus is transformed into Spooky Point where you can follow an eerily lit path and encounter fantastic creations and boo-tanically-themed decorations along the way. Equal parts campy, creepy and cute, this walk-through show is fun for all ages. Tickets go on sale August 24.
Historic Spanish Point Campus, 401 N Tamiami Trl, Osprey
This spirited musical ghost trolley tour with an historic bent returns for its 8th year with tour times at 7pm or 8:30pm. Talented cast members Kaylene McCaw and MariAnne Hernandez alternate as Lady Melody, the tour's ghost hostess, and tell stories of haunted buildings as they welcome aboard mystery spirits played by David Springer, Michael De Mocko, Olivia Turpening and Sarah Van Keuren. Prizes are awarded for best costume each night. Tickets include complimentary beer or wine before boarding and free parking.
Discover Sarasota Tours, 1826 4th St., Sarasota
Join the Markovitz Socratic Stage Series featuring Judge Roy K. Altman and Dr. Stuart Altshuler for an insightful discussion on Judge Altman's book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law. This book dissects the most influential accusations against Israel through the rules of evidence, handling allegations the way a court would treat disputed claims. Rather than rehearse familiar ideological talking points, Judge Altman scrutinizes sources, tests assertions, defines terms and applies established legal standards to these most controversial contentions.
Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Inspired by the Brothers Grimm fable, this fairy tale opera follows two siblings who encounter a beguiling Gingerbread Witch. This opera displays a timeless reflection on innocence, resourcefulness and the power of family. Hansel and Gretel is presented in three acts and includes music by Engelbert Humperdinck and words by Adelheid Wette. Tickets go on sale online on August 1 and at the box office on September 1.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
Join Blase Martini Bar for its first dart tourney, prizes and to make a difference in the health of the community. Show off your skills on the new dart boards to benefit Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation's program to provide low-income women with diagnostic screenings. Enjoy Miller Lite's all day and the special martini of the month, the Boo-Hoo.
Blase Martini Bar, 5263 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key
Experience an afternoon of local flavor, live music, waterfront views and some of Sarasota's favorite locally owned restaurants. You're invited to come hungry, bring your friends and celebrate the flavors of the local community and the delicious Gulf-coastal lifestyle. Admission is free, and food can be purchased with food tickets—each sold in $5 increments.
The Bay Park, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota
Join Project Pride SRQ for a joyful day of Pride, community and celebration in Sarasota to bring together LGBTQ+ residents, families, allies, artists, local businesses, nonprofits, sponsors, volunteers and community partners. Explore a lively vendor marketplace, connect with local organizations and resources, enjoy delicious food, experience live performances and celebrate in an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere built around visibility, joy and belonging.
Project Pride SRQ, 1370 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota
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